New Zealand cricketers played like dicks, says coach

New Zealand cricket coach Mark Greatbatch has given a damning verdict of his players' performance against Bangladesh, saying the Black Caps "played like dicks" and must redeem themselves in India.

New Zealand this month capitulated 0-4 in a one-day series against unfancied Bangladesh, a result the local media has described as a low point in the team's history.

"When you play badly like that you've got to front up," Greatbatch told NZ radio station Livesport from India, where New Zealand will next week begin a tour that includes three Tests and five one-day internationals.

"It's very devastating. We played like dicks really and I suppose there's one positive thing, we've got a chance next week to actually put it right."

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Greatbatch was similarly blunt in his assessment of the team's top order batsmen, who failed to fire against Bangladesh.

"I think some aren't good enough, I think some think they are better than they are," he said, refusing to name the players he was referring to.

The coach said his batsmen needed to work out when a situation required aggression and when they needed patience at the crease.

"What it requires is actually sorting out the cricket smarts and weighing up the situation that you're playing in and we've got some work to do in all those areas," he said.

New Zealand cricket chiefs have resisted major changes after the Bangladesh humiliation, making only two changes to the Test side to face India and instead setting up a committee of former players to examine all aspects of the game.